2. Become an avid and educated label reader. Look at the label and steer clear of ingredients like triclosan,fragrances (which can contain phthalates), F&D Color, BHA or BHT, PEG compounds, DEA/ MEA/TEA (diethanolamine, triethanolamine, monethanolamine), sulfates or ingredients with the letters “eth” (e.g., sodium laurethsulfate), ending in “paraben” (e.g., methylparaben), or “siloxane” (e.g., cyclotetrasiloxane) or “methicone” (e.g. cyclomethicone). The list goes on and on, but I am sure you are getting the idea of what NOT to use!

COAL TAR: an antidandruff agent, a cosmetic biocide, a denaturant; obtained as a by-product in the destructive distillation of coal; a known carcinogen; banned in European Union and Canada; may be contaminated with benzo[a]pyrene, another carcinogen

COCAMIDE DEA: a chemically modified form of coconut oil, a foaming agent; carcinogen; may break down into Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)

COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE: a synthetic surfactant; a contact allergen; may break down into Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)

COLORANTS: FD&C and D&C colors are coal tar derivatives, tested on animals due to their carcinogenic properties

DIBUTYL PHTHALATES (DBP): used in nail polish or a part of “fragrance”; a reproductive and developmental toxicant; banned in European Union; in animal studies, exposure to DBP during gestation causes infertility; prenatal exposure to DBP associated with reproductive organs mutation in baby boys

DIOXINS: a carcinogenic impurity of triclosan; a hormone disruptor; persistent and bioaccumulative; a priority pollutant on the EPA Clean Water Act list

ETHYLENE OXIDE: a known human carcinogen; banned in Canada and European Union; EWG rates it 10 for the harmful health impact on a scale from 0 to 10 (10 being the most harmful); associated with cancer, reproductive effects, mutagenic changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization; not an ingredient but a contaminant of ingredients such as Polysorbate-20, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Ceteth-20, Polysorbate-60, Laureth-7, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Steareth-21 and others

FORMALDEHYDE: a carcinogenic impurity released by cosmetic preservatives, such as diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and others; causes dermatitis; banned in Japan and Sweden; in the U.S., 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a formaldehyde-releaser

FRAGRANCE: an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals and ingredients containing hormone-disrupting phthalates, allergens, and diethyl phthalate linked to sperm damage. top toxic body product ingredient: fragrance! Did you know that product makers are allowed to withhold toxic fragrance ingredients? Examples of ingredients include diethyl phthalate, a chemical found in 97 percent of Americans and linked to sperm damage in human epidemiological studies, and musk ketone, which concentrates in human fat tissue and breast milk.

HYDROQUINONE: a skin bleaching agent, a hair colorant; banned in European Union and Canada; may cause a bluish black discoloration of certain tissues; a skin and respiratory organ toxicity; an allergen; may also be an impurity found in “tocophe” group of chemicals (e.g. Tocopheryl Acetate)

LAURAMIDE DEA: a foam booster; may break down into Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)

LEAD: carcinogenic; persistent and bioaccumulative; banned by FDA to be used around eyes; used in hair colorants; an impurity found in hydrogenated cottonseed oil, sodium hexametaphosphate, hydrogenated cottonseed glyceride

LECITHIN: a skin conditioning substance, an emulsifying agent; may break down into Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)

MERCURY: a non-reproductive organ toxicant; persistent and bioaccumulative; as a cosmetics ingredient banned in Canada, Japan, European Union, and US, but may be an impurity in hydrogenated cottonseed oil and hydrogenated cottonseed glyceride

METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE: a preservative causing allergic reactions; skin, lung, and eye irritatant; may be neurotoxic; restricted in Canada and Japan;

NITROMETHANE: an anticorrosive agent found in aerosol hair sprays; a carcinogen; persistent and bioaccumulative

NITROSAMINES: a carcinogenic contaminant; no repercussions for US manufacturers contaminating their products with nitrosamines; very common, nearly every kind of personal care product and cosmetics can contain nitrosamines as various compounds break down over time and recombine into nitrosamines

OLEAMIDE DEA: a foam booster; may be contaminated with Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)

PAHs: a group of chemicals occurring naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline; carcinogenic; banned in the European Union and Canada

PHENOXYETHANOL: a preservative; restricted in Japan; in European Union considered harmful only for products used on the lips and around the mouth; skin, eye, lung irritant

PLACENTA ENZYMES: derived from the uterus of slaughtered animals; widely used in skin creams, shampoos, and masks; may be contaminated with progesterone, estrogen, and estrone

POLYSORBATE-20: a surfactant and emulsifier used in cleaners and personal care products; may be contaminated with carcinogenic Ethylene Oxide (see ETHYLENE OXIDE) and 1,4-Dioxane (see 1,4-DIOXANE

PROPYLENE GLYCOL: an organic alcohol commonly used as a skin conditioning agent; may cause an allergic contact dermatitis and itchiness; irritation may happen at propylene glycol concentrations as low as 2%

RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A PALMITATE): a synthetic vitamin A; restricted in cosmetics use in Canada; according to FDA studies, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions and daily skin application of vitamin A creams may build up in the woman’s body a high enough level of Vitamin A that may be toxic to a fetus

SELENIUM SULFIDE: an antidandruff and hair conditioning agent; banned in European Union and Japan; a carcinogen; persistent and bioaccumulative;

SODIUM BENZOATE: when combined with ascorbic acid, benzene may be formed (see BENZENE)

SODIUM PCA: a skin and hair conditioning agent; can break down into Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)

TALC: may be contaminated with asbestos fibers causing respiratory toxicity and cancer; asbestos-free talc is still toxic and carcinogenic

TOLUENE: a petrochemical solvent and paint thinner; in cosmetics used in nail polish; reproductive system toxin; damage to fetus

TRICLOSAN: an antibacterial agent and preservative in personal care and home-cleaning products; persistent and bioaccumulative; a hormone disruptor; a skin, lung, and eyes irritant; may be contaminated with chloroform (see CHLOROFORM) and dioxins (see DIOXINS)